Horticulture is the science and art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, turfgrass, greenhouse crops, and nursery crops such as trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials.

Horticulture affects us in our daily lives from the food we eat to public green spaces and home lawns. It is a diverse field that encompasses the study of the biology and genetics of plants, and uses this research based knowledge for practical applications.

Careers

The Horticulture program can lead to careers in landscape construction, plant production, as golf course superintendents or assistant superintendents, grounds supervisors, or to careers in garden centers doing landscape installation and design. In addition, green careers through horticulture studies can lead to jobs in environmental conservation as sustainable landscape architects, park naturalists and greenhouse or nursery managers.

These are the jobs of today and of the future.

Here are sample careers, growth expected and salaries in the metropolitan area and throughout Minnesota.

Job Title

Percent Change in Employment 2012-2022

Twin Cities

Minnesota

Median Wage per hour (2016)

Environmental Science and Protection Technician

7.4%

$23.70

$22.71

Forester

5.1%

$29.21

$28.46

Grounds Maintenance Worker

4%

$13.99

$13.00

Landscape Architect

3.0%

$26.84

$27.22

Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker

4.2%

$1315

$12.53

Soil and Plant Scientists

1.8%

$27.25

$29.73

Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service

3.4%

$21.20

$21.71

Supervisors, Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Worker

4.4%

$20.78

$19.97

Tree Trimmers and Pruners

3.3%

$14.12

$18.62

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)